What Should I Eat?
The truth is, there is no perfect diet that fits everyone's needs. Even if you are very healthy with no gut or digestive issues, some foods will make you feel better than others.
Personally I would love to live on veggies, fruit and grains but my body and brain would revolt. My brain gets foggy and my blood sugar drops too low without protein, and I start craving quick carbs or sweets. I have learned how to listen to my body and I know what makes my body, my brain, and my emotional state feel best. Like anyone, I veer off track at times. When I do, I am quickly reminded why I don't eat those foods regularly.
December brought to my diet homemade toffee, chocolate caramels and gluten free gingersnaps. When I look back, it also brought middle of the night insomnia, dry skin, and digestive issues. I already know that sugar and I do not get along so this was my reminder. And all of those issues have cleared up as my diet has gone back to my normal.
When I work with clients, I have to ask a lot of questions and then education them on how to listen to what their body is telling them. So many people think heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and gas are just part of everyday life. They are not - they are messages from your body to you that it is struggling.
My job is to help them dig until we find the root causes behind these symptoms. In this process, the best diet for them is usually found.
What does this have to do with mental health? Everything. Eating the typical American diet creates inflammation and havoc in our bodies. Inflammation can cause depression, anxiety and all other mental health symptoms.
I have seen:
sugar trigger mania in bi-polar clients
blood sugar instability cause deep afternoon depression
meal-skipping wreck clients sobriety
vegetarians fall into depression when they fail to monitor protein intake
I hope you are on your journey to your best diet and your best health in 2018. Along the way, I will be posting more blogs and am available to help in any way I can.
Vonda